A Body to Die For (Hardcover)

by Kate White (Author), Warner Books (Editor), None (Illustrator) "WHEN I THINK back on everything terrible that happened that autumn-the murders, the grim discovery I made, the danger I found myself in-I realize I..." (more)
Key Phrases: release massage, patrol cop, main reception area, New York, Detective Beck, Bailey Weggins (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Bailey Weggins, the heroine of Cosmo editor-in-chief White's bestselling debut, If Looks Could Kill (2002), proves that her sleuthing ability was no fluke in this solid follow-up. Depressed by her nonexistent love life, Bailey, a freelance true-crime writer for Gloss magazine, leaves Manhattan for some R&R at the Cedar Inn and Spa in Warren, Mass., owned and run by an old friend of her mother's. Her first night there, however, she stumbles on the corpse of one of the inn's female therapists-wrapped in silver Mylar paper. Anna Cole's murder, on top of the accidental death of a male client months earlier, could spell doom for the inn, unless Bailey can get to the bottom of things. Meanwhile, Jack Herlihy, the smooth shrink from her prior outing, surfaces with a plausible excuse for his earlier disappearing act, while "dashing" Jeffrey Beck, the local detective who's looking into Anna's murder, also attracts, despite his cool professional demeanor. Bailey bravely deals with threats (a dead mouse wrapped in Mylar in the mail), deftly pumps people for information (a scene with a local waitress is a gem) and comes to a startling conclusion after the murder of a second therapist just before the heart-stopping, heroine-in-peril climax. Though the glamorous New York magazine world has only a small role here, fans will find Bailey's sassy wit as engaging as ever and are sure to admire the skill with which White pulls together all the threads.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Bailey Weggins, the smart-mouthed true-crime writer for Gloss magazine, returns in a book equally as entertaining as its predecessor, If Looks Could Kill [BKL My 1 02]. Last time Manhattan was the backdrop for murder; now the scene shifts to the country, as Bailey tries to help an old friend figure out why the guests at her inn/spa are turning up murdered. And murdered in particularly nasty ways--the first is packaged like a leftover sandwich in the shiny mylar paper used for herbal wraps. White, editor-in-chief of cosmopolitan, cleverly offers her readers a whole tray full of tasty red herrings to nibble on. Almost everyone in the story is a suspect, but the fun lies not only in trying to guess whodunit but also in watching Bailey evolve as a woman (with two sexy guys after her) and a detective, who follows where the case leads. Kelly Ripa, of Live with Regis and Kelly, chose Looks as her first book-club selection, so this follow-up is sure to have a ready-made audience. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books; First edition (June 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446531480
• ISBN-13: 978-0446531481
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #907,439 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 2 in The Bailey Weggins Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beach read!, May 20, 2003

By	E. Griffin (Wilton, CT, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Body to Die For is the second book of a new series featuring Bailey Weggins, a freelance magazine writer who specializes in true crime stories. In this installment, Bailey travels from NYC to Massachusetts for some rest and relaxation at a spa owned by a long time friend of Bailey's mother. Shortly after Baily arrives, a spa employee is found murdered. Bailey soon discovers that this is not not the first death during the past few months at the spa, and that several other intrigues are also going on.

In the true spirit of nosy writers who interfere with police work, Bailey begins interviewing reluctant spa employees and other bystanders, and following up on clues. At the same time, Bailey is managing her conflicted romantic life, finding herself interested in both a boyfriend from the past and one of the policemen involved in the murder case.

Kate White's writing style is breezy and not unlike that of the fashion / beauty magazine Ms. White edits. The phrasing is awkward or blunt at times, and Bailey frequently acts like too much of a neophyte for her crime writing background. However, A Body to Die For is a swift paced read perfect for lazy summer afternoons.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not bad but book took a bit too long to unfold..., May 31, 2003

By	tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Although "A Body to Die For" did possess a rather intriguing storyline, ultimately the book did prove to a bit of a bland read for me.

Bailey Weggins is in dire need of some rest and relaxation -- her workload is beginning to get to her and her promising romance with Jack Herlihy (a professor of psychology) seems to have mysteriously fizzled. So that when close family friend, Danny Hubner, who owns and runs a health spa and inn (Cedar Inn) in Warren, Massachusetts invites Bailey to spend the weekend there, it seemed to be just the ticket. Except that Bailey discovers the dead body of one of the massage therapists in one of the treatment rooms. A quick talk with Danny reveals that things have been rather strained lately, and that Danny has been at a lose to figure out what's been going on. And so Bailey volunteers to help out her friend by snooping around. But the clues are few and leads hard to come by. However Bailey is determined to discover what's going on at Cedar Inn as well as unmask the killer, esp after the killer sends Bailey an ominous message warning her to stop her investigation...

If you're stuck somewhere over the weekend with nothing to do and no where to go (like an airport, or a hotel room) then you really won't feel too shortchanged if you invest your time (and money) on this book. The trouble with "A Body to Die For" was that it was 1) a bit of a bland read; 2) the mystery took too long to unfold; 3) the clues and suspects were really scarce; 4) there were very few clever twists and turns; and 5)for a seasoned professional crime columnist, Bailey seemed unbelievably naive. On the plus side, some of the dialogue was snappy and humourous and Bailey Weggins was easy to relate to and empathise -- in fact was what really saved the book for me and made it readable (even if I found it really amusing that Bailey's rolodex was full of 'phone numbers of people whom she had never met but who were willing to help her figure out what was going on at Cedar Inn). So, if you're looking for a book to while away the time and that is entertaining as well, "A Body to Die For" will do; but if you're looking for a good mystery novel that will keep you riveted by the events that are unfolding between the pages, then you might want to try something else.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly Entertaining, October 16, 2005

By	Lois Lain (San Francisco Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Body to Die For (Mass Market Paperback)

I'd read Kate White's non-fiction self-help books years ago, but didn't know she'd ventured into the realm of mystery. I was pleased with her plotting and writing and will be tracking down her other books.